Riding the Coaster...OR The Week Ending 11/29/2015

An interesting week, if that can be said.  

Monday, Mom was slightly alert.  She wasn’t very hungry and managed to eat the equivalent of most of one meal.  I tried helping her eat, but she really wasn’t very hungry.  Her motions were jittery and weak.  She seemed quite tired, and I requested they keep her up as long as possible, rather than return her to her room and bed.   

Tuesday, Mom was in her wheelchair, and I, again, tried helping her eat.  She had no interest in any of the food - that is until the dessert came.  She wanted to eat this on her own but kept dropping the spoon.  The resident pastor was there and she was quite helpful.  Mom managed to eat about half her dessert, but she kept dropping it, but she stated she was through.  They were going to attempt to keep her awake again, and see how she did.  

Mom thinking about what she wants to do

That evening, they took away her bed and replaced it with the hospital bed, and an alarm, in case she decided to get up in the middle of the night.   

Wednesday, Mom was sitting up in her new bed and in a relatively good mood.  She willingly allowed them to change her and clean her up.  There was no protest.  She still didn’t eat much, but they did try as much as possible with all three meals.  

Thursday, Thanksgiving, Mom was up, again, and it was pretty much a repeat of Wednesday.  Her voice was quite weak, and she appeared very tired despite her long slumbers.  

Friday, Jean came for a visit, and when I arrived she and Noelle (the hospice nurse) were working with Mom to help her eat and to check her vitals.  Noelle wasn’t quite successful with her enticements of chicken for Mom, but Jean was able to get a couple of mouthfuls of pie in her.  

Jean tries to converse with a very tired and reluctant Mama.

She had been quite alert, according to the two of them, but what I saw was her very tired self, again.  I was able to put some slippers on her, as she had refused them earlier.  She then decided she was going to powernap, and as she did Noelle and I were able to conference over medications and other whatnots dealing with the Mater.

Mom power naps while Noelle works on her report

Saturday found Mother quite tired.  She had been given some medication to help with constipation and it worked - during the night - all night.  She had made it to the loo twice with no help, and the rest of the time staff was able to aid her.  They did help her back to bed, as she was quite unsteady on her feet.  

My brother and his son had just arrived from Washington to see her around 11, but as she was still abed, it seemed reasonable for them to return later.   I mentioned she seemed quite alert and bright when she greeted them.  “That was alert?” my brother inquired.  I affirmed my statement.  And, to be honest, she was the most chipper I’d seen her in a while, and she’d been awakened by our presence.  

My brother and son returned later and had a nice visit with her.  She still didn’t eat much - only half her lunch.  

Later that evening, I received a call.  Mom had just punched the med-aide 3 times while she was trying to give her the medications, and to put Mom in her wheelchair.  Mother was quite belligerent!   She complained she didn’t need any pills!  and she could stand on her own two feet (which she was doing when the aide walked in).  The aide quickly pushed the chair behind Mom and suddenly Mom began to fall backward - luckily into the chair.  Whew!

On Sunday, Mom was determined to walk to breakfast.  She did, with help.  She refused the walker and the wheelchair.   She ate abotu 80% of her breakfast, and then went to her room to rest. And rest she did. She did not come out until dinner.

For dinner, Mom used the wheelchair, as her legs simply wouldn't comply, and she gladly rode to the table. And this is where I'll leave you for this week.

Stay tuned for more!

Mom and her friends in the '70's:  L-R Mom, Florence Fletcher, Martha Lou Magin, Unknown. 2nd Row: Bobby Harrah and 3 Unknown ladies.